Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Review: Come the Shadows





Come the Shadows by Wendy Young
Series: The Campbell Creek Mysteries #1
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Pages: 232 pages (paperback)
Source: Author
Author's Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Buy it: Amazon | Kindle | B&N

Description:
Campbell Creek, North Carolina has not seen a murder in seventeen years. When bones are discovered in the old bread factory Officer Will Harmon is determined to investigate, no matter who stands in his way. His wife Laura knows there is more troubling their town than one dead body, though, and the more she digs the more she finds. It's all up to them - and they will do whatever it takes to win against the darkness invading their town.

My Rating:

My Review:

 When bones are discovered in an old factory, Officer Will Harmon is not content with the ME's finding that the bones are not the result of a murder.  Meanwhile, a businessman has arrived in town determined to buy up local land at any cost.  When Laura Harmon asks for explanations, she is met with closed doors and silence.  Refusing to give up, Laura searches for answers.

I really didn't like this book.  THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!  I didn't get answers to the things I wanted answers to and got an extraordinary amount of detail about things I didn't care about.  For example, why in the heck would someone claim to commit a murder that they didn't do?  I'm sure it happens but usually a reasonable explanation is given.  Then we get the interactions between the characters because Laura wants to have another baby and Will doesn't since almost all of their children are fully grown and they've already had their surprise baby who has just begun to crawl. This seems relevant to me if it has something to do with the plot that I'm tapping my foot and ready to get some answers to.  Do I sound picky?  Maybe.  I didn't feel like there were any real explanations for either mystery.  I understand that this is a series, but usually each mystery in a series is wrapped up in such a way that the reader feels satisfied and the next installment in the series starts a new mystery.  Here, I felt that there was such a build up and then a complete let down when it was time for the big reveal.  What was the motive for any of this stuff?  I kept asking "Why?"

Then there are the characters.  They all felt one dimensional and Laura and Will came across as judgmental and condescending at times.  At other times, not so much.  I just never connected.  Since I didn't connect and they didn't have anything special going on, I ended up finding them to be a boring duo.

Overall, this book lacked a spark.  There was nothing that grabbed my attention and there isn't anything special that sets it a part. It is written well and there is a mystery.  Beyond this, I found it really difficult to care about this one.  It was simply boring.

I'm disappointed to write my first "Yuck" review of the year, but please don't rely on my review in making your decision about this one.  There are plenty of people who loved it.

Check out the following the reviews for another view:
Wall-to-Wall Books
Come the Shadows on Goodreads


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16 comments:

  1. It sounds like it had promise but didn't deliver. I can't stand when there are open questions at the end of a thriller!

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  2. Hey thanks for the link!
    Wow, I can't believe you disliked it that much! I really liked it. I do have to say though that the second book was even better. But I guess you won't want to try it after this one, LOL

    You know that happens a lot. Either someone will really hate a book that I love or Someone will rave about a book I really couldn't get into. Good thing there are lots of books to make everyone happy

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    Replies
    1. No I won't try the second one. It's not that I don't believe that it could get better but more so that I don't care enough about the characters to follow them around. Then I would feel as if I shouldn't review it honestly since I "set myself up."

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  3. Sorry to hear you didn't like it. I never heard of the author or the book before. But it's a bummer to invest in reading a book and when you're finished, you didn't get anything of substance from it. Maybe next time. But thanks for sharing it with the rest of us. I don't like yucky stuff. LOL.

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    Replies
    1. It is rare that I feel like I wasted my time when I finish a book but I agree, it is the worst feeling.

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  4. Sorry you didn't like it and hope your next book is better.
    Characters are a deal breaker for me, so I couldnt do one dimensional either.
    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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    Replies
    1. They aren't always a deal breaker for me but when everything is a miss, I just can't enjoy myself.

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  5. Ugh, that smiley! Sorry you didn't like it. I hate it when I can't make sense out of the plot, as well as characters's behavior. I usually just abandon those type of books. :(

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  6. I have a hard time enjoying books where I don't connect to the characters. If I'm not invested in them, then I'm not invested in the story. Thanks for writing a truthful review...I know it can be hard to review books you are not fond of.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! It is hard but I feel strongly that I have to be honest and I can't avoid these types of reviews if they come up.

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  7. I dislike writing "yuck reviews" too. Ironically when I really hate a book, which isn't often, it can be some of the easiest reviews to write.

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    Replies
    1. That's true. I still feel like I have to defend it more than other ratings.

      Delete
  8. I am shocked to see a yuck review. Since you have so few.

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    Replies
    1. It's the first of the year. I put it off and put it off but I had to be honest.

      Delete

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